Pennsylvanie is no exception to the epidemic of climate change, and Gov. Tom Wolf is making a plan to do something about it. | stock photo
Pennsylvanie is no exception to the epidemic of climate change, and Gov. Tom Wolf is making a plan to do something about it. | stock photo
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) has announced an action plan to fight climate change.
“As thousands of Pennsylvanians try to recover from historic flooding and tornadoes related to the remnants of Ida this month, the message is clear: We must move now out of a reactive mode on climate change,” Wold said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website. “Across sectors, leadership requires knowledge, tools and proactive approaches to protect Pennsylvanians from the instability set off by the climbing global temperature. In addition to adapting to the level of impacts we’re already experiencing, we must significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions if we’re to prevent worsening impacts.”
In 2019, Wolf set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% before 2025 and 80% before 2050, compared to 2005 levels.
Gov. Tom Wolf
| State of Pennsylvania
"Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan 2021 shows that statewide greenhouse gas emissions overall were nearly 19% lower in 2017 (the latest year for which data were available for the plan) than they were in 2005," the website said. "Emissions decreased from electricity generation, residential and commercial fuel use, and transportation -- and increased from mining, oil and natural gas operations and industrial-process heating fuel use."
The 2021 action plan describes 18 actions to meet both the 2025 and 2050 statewide emissions goals. Wolf is calling on statewide action by all sectors, including legislative, government, industry, business, agriculture and community organizations,.
"Actions are needed in electricity generation, transportation, industry, residential and commercial building, agriculture, fuel supply and -- to help increase carbon capture and sequestration -- land and forest management," the website said.
Emissions could be reduced by switching from oil or natural gas to electricity or biogas (a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the bacterial decomposition of organic wastes and used as a fuel), the governor said.
"Switching electricity generation to renewable and nuclear energy sources, increasing industrial energy efficiency and fuel switching, and increasing the use of electric vehicles offer the greatest potential for reaching the 2050 goal," according to Official Pennsylvania Government Website.
Alerts Sign-up